Cal Football Spring Practice: Defense Looks to Match 2024 Success

For almost a decade, the California Golden Bears have been lauded as a strong defensive team. When defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon left to coach for the New Orleans Saints in February, questions arose surrounding the urgency of finding a replacement, and what the outlook might be for next season. When asked about this future uncertainty, head coach Justin Wilcox seemed confident that his defense would be able to consistently perform at a high level. With that in mind, let’s see how the Cal defense has been performing in spring practice, and who football fans should expect to make a splash in fall.

Cal Football Spring Practice Notes

Linebackers Leading the Team

Linebackers Hunter Barth and Cade Uluave will look to lead the defense with their versatile play making ability. Uluave and Barth have already proven themselves to be stars among an incredibly talented linebacker unit – and that’s continued into spring practice.

The duo will be looking to emulate the production of Teddye Buchanan who departed at the end of last season. Buchanan recorded 114 total tackles in 2024 with five sacks, four passes defended, and two fumbles forced.

Alongside Barth and Uluave, Odera Okaka, John Gayer, and Ryan McCulloch can be expected to account for most of the production from the edge. McCulloch, who picked up 19 tackles with 3.5 sacks and one pass breakup last season, continues to impress in practice.

Gayer, a transfer from the College of San Mateo, will attract a lot of attention this year. In his 2024 season with CSM, he logged a record-setting 15.5 sacks along with 21.5 tackles for loss and 53 tackles.

Okaka, another CSM transfer and Antioch native, was rated the nation’s No. 1 JUCO edge player by 247, and No. 3 per On3. In 2024, he recorded 41 tackles and 3 sacks.

Defensive Backs Primed to Step Up in 2025

With multiple defensive backs headed for the draft, Cal will be searching for its next star defender in the secondary. Seniors Ja’ir Smith, Hezekiah Masses, and Dru Polidore Jr. have already impressed with their defensive ability this spring. Also, Jasiah Wagener and Cam Sidney have stood out in spring practice.

Returning starter Cam Sidney will play a big role for his junior year. Last season, Sidney recorded 29 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, and two fumbles recovered. The defensive back has proven that he can create problems for opposing offenses.

Meanwhile, Ja’ir Smith will look to make serious gains from his 2024 campaign, where he recorded 12 tackles with one sack and one interception. Hezekiah Masses, a transfer from FIU, recorded 38 tackles, one interception, one fumble forced, and five passes defended in his final season with the Panthers. Both players have clearly demonstrated their ability to defend the pass in practice and I will be excited to see what they can produce for the Bears this fall.

Finally, Polidore Jr. logged 21 tackles for FCS playoff finalist Montana State before transferring to Berkeley this spring. His 2024 campaign with the Bobcats included one pass breakup and two interceptions. Polidore Jr., who has averaged 26 tackles per season, will certainly be looking to make a statement in his final year of eligibility.

Final Thoughts

The Golden Bears have prided themselves on their prolific defenses during the Justin Wilcox era. The Bears averaged 22.1 points allowed per game in 2024. That marked the third-fewest points allowed per game in a season in coach Wilcox’s tenure.

Although the departure of defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon and the absence of a replacement may be cause for concern, Wilcox remains comfortable, noting the stability of each room on defense. He also assures there is no “rush” to make a hire. Coach Wilcox’s confidence in his defense is certainly supported by what can be seen on the field: a defensive roster full of talent and athleticism, developed by a highly qualified coaching staff.